What could be more fun than playing in water on a hot summer day? Making music AND playing in water! I came across a video at Child’s Play Music and just had to try this with our children. We’re only on day two, but the activity is so open ended that I’m sure it will be out for the rest of the summer!

We began by rounding up all the colored plastic items we use for our light unit and put those in water tubs with some utensils including chopsticks and wooden spoons to use as strikers. The colors in the bright morning sun were beautiful and attracted the kids to the table.

The children began exploring sounds by pouring water from different heights to hear loud and soft sounds as well as fast and slow sounds. They also learned about high and low sounds. They experimented making sounds with containers both above and below water. Comparisons were also made with filled and empty containers. Differences between metal, plastic, and wood sounds were also discovered.

Metal objects including pan lids and several sizes of mixing bowls were added to the table this morning. The children loved the sounds from the mixing bowls!

I’m sure the children will make more discoveries about sound and water throughout the summer as we add other objects to the water center.

The preschool class is learning to read and write Chinese characters. We’re beginning with numbers and then will progress to other simple characters. A variety of methods are being used to facilitate learning.

The Montessori 3 part card method is being use to introduce the characters. Children are shown a whole card with a picture and the Chinese character beneath the picture. The whole cards are placed on the table and then matched with the corresponding pictures and characters.

The iPad is being used as a tactile method to facilitate writing. Our Chinese teacher shows children the correct order in which to write the characters. Children then practice writing and can do the activity as many times as they want since the sheet can be erased and reused. Children’s work can then be shared with parents through email.

After completing the Montessori 3 part cards and the iPad exercises children are ready to write the characters on paper worksheets.

During January the children learned about cold climates and worked with the story “A Whale of a Tale” from Twenty Tellable Tales compiled by Margaret Read MacDonald. This story originates from the Eskimos. At the beginning of the month children looked at the globe to see where Eskimos live and then where they live. Our class talked about weather and animals found in arctic climates.

Teachers told the story using flannelboard figures copied from prints in the book. Children also learned Chinese vocabulary related to the story.

A winter painting was created to go along with the story. Children were given a canvas on which to squirt dots of acrylic paint in cool colors to create a winter background.

The paints were then mixed to produce the background for the story figures to be printed onto.

Misty-Jade and I made stamps from the story figures. We traced the prints onto foam sheets, drew in the details, and then traced the details with an Exacto knife.

Stamp pads were made using two layers of fabric interfacing cut into circles to fit inside a plastic picnic plate. The fabric was soaked with water and then white acrylic paint was poured on top and spread out.

Children stamped the figures onto their winter paintings. After the paint dried the children applied a coat of Mod Podge diluted with water to the pictures. Some irridescent glitter was sprinkled over the Mod Podge for snow.

Last week the children retold the story during circle time using their pictures as a guide. They were all able to include the Chinese vocabulary they had learned.

The children made Santa handprint ornaments to give to their parents for Christmas. While searching the internet for gift ideas I came across two that we combined to make the finished product. One site offered to make the Santas professionally from clay using a child’s handprint. Then I found a recipe on Pinterest that uses cornstarch and baking soda to make a clay that looks like porcelain when it’s finished. The clay was used to make beautiful Christmas ornaments, so I thought it would be perfect for the children’s gifts.

It took about two weeks to complete the project. There was a lot of trial and error making the clay just right so that it wouldn’t crack while baking. A few of the ornaments had to be made a couple times. The teachers made the clay and then helped the children to press their hands into it.

Teachers cut the handprints out of the clay and then baked them for a couple hours before setting the prints out to dry.

It’s important that each child do as much of their own work as possible, so the toddlers painted their hands red.

The preschool class painted Santa’s hat.

The beard was painted white, and then a teacher added the facial details.

The children and teachers are very pleased with the finished ornaments.

December has just begun and we’re all very busy! The children have completed many activities already and there are so many more to do before Christmas vacation begins.

The winter sensory tub (inspired by Teach Preschool) has been a big hit with all the children. Even the adults can’t keep their hands out of it! A tub was filled with plastic frosty snow. Penguins and an iceberg from a game we have were added to the snow along with clear and blue acrylic ice cubes. Some wood scoops and a couple wire Christmas ornaments were added. The blue confetti snowflakes add some cool color to the tub. We’ve had a couple incidents where the children have thrown the snow up to watch it fall, but who wouldn’t be tempted to do that?

The children continue to learn Chinese with Gao Laoshi and are beginning to learn to count to 20. A couple felt Christmas trees were attached to the wall and velcroed pom poms were set out in a dish. This activity helps children to practice counting as well as learn Chinese color vocabulary.

Gao Laoshi has started introducing some simple Chinese characters to the children. They’re beginning to write numbers.

Christmas shaped erasers have been set out at the math center for children to work on one-to-one correspondence.

Colored craft sticks were also set out at the math table. Velcro dots were attached to the ends on both sides so that the children can build geometric shapes with them.

A basket of clear and different shades of blue stones have been set out at the light table for children to build with.

Finger painting on foil was a new experience for all the kids. They enjoyed seeing the shiny foil through the paint.

During November the preschoolers have been learning food related vocabulary with Gao, Laoshi. Today they made a movie to show their parents. The children were absolutely thrilled seeing themselves on video tape.

Many fall activities are happening in the preschool class. Last week the children made beautiful votive candle holders for their families to use at Thanksgiving.

Ball canning jars were painted with Mod Podge that was slightly thinned with some water. This makes it easier for the children to paint the glue onto the jars.

The teachers cut leaves out of tissue paper in fall colors then the Children put them onto the jars.

Mod Podge was painted over the leaves.

I love E’s focus and concentration.

Other fall activities include playing with pumpkin pie play dough, a turkey color matching activity at the light table, counting mini pumpkins while learning one t0 one correspondence, and learning Chinese food vocabulary with Gao Laoshi. This week the preschool class will make pumpkin pies to share with their baby home friends and teachers.